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'Several times now we’ve had people show up from out of town, taking a bus, planning to sleep in the bus station, with no toiletries or change of clothes.'

The patient arrived in Houston at midnight after a seven-hour Greyhound trip from a small Texas town. With no money for a hotel, she spent the night in the bus station and took a cab to the clinic for her early morning appointment.

Susanna S., a member of the Houston- based Clinic Action Support Network (CASN), met her as she left the building. The patient was distressed, Susanna re- calls; she’d been unaware that she’d have to return two days later for her procedure, due to a mandatory waiting period. She wasn’t prepared for—and couldn’t pay for—the extra nights, nor the three bus tickets needed to get home and then back to the clinic.

The medical procedure was, of course, an abortion. No other healthcare procedure is so heavily regulated and politicized. And a new Texas law—House Bill 2(HB2)—has added a host of mandatory, medically unnecessary steps to the process of obtaining an abortion.

Among other restrictions, HB2 requires patients who undergo a common form of abortion—a “medical abortion,” via pill—to visit the clinic for each of the two doses of medication, rather than taking the second dose at home, as is typical. The law also re- quires a 14-day follow-up visit, in addition to the existing 24-hour waiting period between initial consultation and procedure for women who live within 100 miles of a clinic. That means medical abortions now require a minimum of four visits, if not more.

Angie Hayes, director of CASN, says that women often arrive unprepared for such a lengthy process. “Several times now we’ve had people show up from out of town, taking a bus, planning to sleep in the bus station, with no toiletries or change of clothes,” only to find out they’d have to wait for several days, she says.

The bill will also make it more difficult for the state’s 22 remaining abortion clinics to stay open. HB2 instituted a new slate of rules for clinics, including that they have patient-admitting privileges at a hospital within 30 miles and that they qualify as ambulatory surgical centers (ASCs), which requires cumbersome and expensive changes like wider corridors. In order to comply, many would need to be rebuilt from the ground up. Since the bill was passed, 14 of the original 36 clinics have closed. When the ASC requirement goes into effect on September 1, it’s likely that only 6 Texas clinics will remain open—none of them located west of San Antonio.

The advocacy group Center for Reproductive Rights has challenged both the hospital-admitting and ASC requirements in court, and the lawsuit is pending. For the time being, the red tape and closures will mean that abortion access requires longer trips and more days off work. More women will have to factor in gas money, childcare and hotel stays as part of the cost of an abortion. Poor women in remote areas will be hardest hit. According to the Guttmacher Institute, in 2009 the median cost of a first-trimester abortion was just under $500. Add the bus travel or gas and up to three nights in a hotel, and the cost can jump by several hundred dollars.

That’s the impetus behind CASN, which was founded last summer in response to the new law, and aims to help Houston-area women clear the growing hurdles to abortion access.

But regulations and requirements like those in HB2 are not limited to Texas. Twenty-seven states have passed abortion regulations that surpass what’s considered medically necessary to ensure patients’ safety. (For example, 13 states specify the size of procedure rooms.) Clinics must either comply with increasingly demanding requirements or, more realistically, shut down, leaving miles and miles between clinics around the country.

The trend has given rise to networks like CASN nationwide that help close the gap between the legal right to an abortion and the ability to get one. The New Mexico Religious Coalition for Reproductive Choice (RCRC), for example, puts up women in a supportive hotel that charges the organization $49.99 a night for a room.

The work of Access Women’s Health Network in California, which has volunteers statewide, extends beyond material support to what Executive Director Samara Azam-Yu describes as intensive case management. When low-income clients lack health insurance, several hours are spent determining whether they are eligible for Medi-Cal, California’s Medicaid program. (Federal Medicaid funds are banned from covering abortion except in cases of rape, incest or a life threatening pregnancy, but 14 states, including California, allow state Medicaid funds to cover abortion in some or all cases.) Access volunteers also help with Medicaid enrollment, including translation services.

Another valuable support offered by these networks is emotional. Joan Lamunyon Sanford, director of the New Mexico RCRC, recounts that one woman broke down in relief when she wasn’t the only person who couldn’t afford an abortion.

But advocates eagerly anticipate the day their support is no longer needed. The example of New Mexico shows how the government, if it chooses, can make abortion accessible and affordable. Sixteen years ago, advocates sued the state, arguing that under New Mexico’s Equal Rights Amendment, abortion should be covered by state Medicaid plans. They won, and New Mexico’s Medicaid plans now cover abortion in most circumstances. As case workers and clinic staff came up to speed, Sanford says, the demand for practical support decreased. “It’s not that the number of abortions were going down, but the need for transportation and lodging went down,” Sanford says. “So the system works. Medicaid funding for abortion works.” These days, however, anti-choice Gov. Susana Martinez has begun to gut the regulations supporting access to abortion, and more women are again turning to the practical support network for help.

The patient who arrived in Houston at midnight was able to get her abortion. CASN put her up in a hotel for the weekend. A CASN volunteer drove her to her Monday morning appointment, and, after she’d rested, Susanna took her back to the bus station. Susanna (who requested her last name not be used for her safety) recalls, “[The patient] said, ‘If I hadn’t met you at the clinic, I’d have spent the weekend at the bus station.’ She still texts me every week or two to let me know how she is doing, which tells me that the support CASN was able to provide made a real difference.”

Eesha Pandit is a Houston-based writer, activist and freelance consultant who believes in social justice movements, the power of intersectionality, feminism, sisterhood and the power of collective action.

Her writing can be found at Crunk Feminist Collective, Feministing, Salon, The Nation, RH Reality Check, Feministe and In These Times. She has also appeared on numerous TV news outlets including CNN, HLN, MSNBC and Grit TV with Laura Flanders.

If the clinics couldn't prove that the women were coming back, they would be shut down -- it's the whole point of that stupid law.

Posted by Sunnyhorse on 2014-07-20 12:13:19

You've completely (and deliberately, I think) missed the point of spoom7718's post.

Posted by Sunnyhorse on 2014-07-20 12:12:18

Where do you live? Apparently you've never heard of Planned Parenthood, but you are somewhat correct. Every time I write a check to them in response to a fundraiser, I'm not covering an abortion, specifically, I'm covering reproductive health care for women. If a woman should elect to have an abortion, I have helped her. Gladly.

Posted by tanyam on 2014-07-19 22:08:46

Once a baby is born, the pro-life community support for that baby is drastically reduced. And pro-lifers tend to not vote for politicans who support financial services for poor people (and those specifically designed for babies post-birth) such as WIC andMedicaid. In fact, they support politicians who go out of their way to cut funding for such programs. Not a truly pro-life position.

Posted by TX Cleo on 2014-07-18 20:10:10

Way to throw a 'red herring' logical fallacy into this discussion. If your argument was so strong, you wouldnt need to resort to such tactics.

Posted by TX Cleo on 2014-07-18 20:04:19

JH I am guessing that you are one of the relentless prolifers that spoom is speaking of. I agree wit him and believe he speaks the truth. I had a FB conversation with one of your peers a few weeks ago and realized that no matter what was said she would not listen or involve in any meaningful dialogue about this issue. She merely only regurgitated over and over again, her stance complete with heavy bible verse, descriptive passages and potshots at me and women who believe in choice. What proliers do is totally dehumanize women with their one view look at life. Spoom does not speak propaganda, spoom speaks the truth.

Posted by Paula Blanchette on 2014-07-17 11:51:51

ALERT: NEW "40 DAYS FOR LIFE" CAMPAIGN COMING!

From the Right to Life anti-choice extremists:

"The next worldwide 40 Days for Life campaign will be held from September 24 to November 2 ...

... and applications for those who feel called to lead a local campaign will open next Tuesday, July 1.

Since 40 Days for Life began less than seven years ago, God has used this effort to achieve amazing victories:

If you want to bring this track record of proven results to your community from September 24 to November 2, it's time to pray ... discern ... and, starting next Tuesday, it's time to act!

That's when you'll have the opportunity to apply to lead a local campaign where you live. Applications will be accepted online and will remain open through Tuesday, July 22.

Based on the many inquiries already coming in — as well as the feedback from the 539 cities that have previously conducted 40 Days for Life campaigns — we'll provide you with helpful information, tools and guidance over the next couple of weeks."

I don't know what climate change has to do with abortion. People who are pro-choice know full well that a life is being ended. Despite what pro-lifers want to think, we take no joy or pleasure in this, no more than one would a funeral.

Let's talk about something deeper like your accusation of pro-choicers trying to hide information from prospective customers.Customers...abortion is a service not a business. Abortion clinics are not burger joints,nor is pro-choice trying to put a clinic on every street corner. Pro-lifers not only hide information from their clients,they lie and make up facts to deter people from having abortions.

Deeper still is the premise of who needs who. If the entire pro-life movement disappeared in a bizarre sort of rapture,the pro-choice movement would breathe a sigh of relief and continue on. The same can't be said for the pro-life movement. You people would have to find another enemy and ,apparently, ending poverty isn't good enough. You people can't function without an enemy,real or imaginary. You people are MAD:Militant Authoritarian Dogmatists. The funny part about your militant language is almost none of you have ever served in the military.

Look at all the time,energy,and money you people have wasted on things that are, quite frankly, none of your business or just plain silly. You people go after people who want or provide abortions even though they are not part of your congregation or religion. The same applies to homosexuals. It's none of your business,but you made it your business. You people spook each other with ridiculous things like Satanism or evil rock n roll and try to scare outsiders with your outlandish allegations. If you people wonder why you're not liked,it isn't because of your beliefs. It's because you impose them on others who don't want to hear them.

Funny how these Conservatives are all abut cutting red tape except around the uterus.

Posted by Jay042 on 2014-06-09 14:17:42

The ultrasound is not for health purposes. It a tool of manipulation. A CPC gives the woman the ultrasound not to find any birth defects, but to find a heartbeat to further humanize the fetus and make it more difficult for the woman to terminate the pregnancy. You should take up origami because you are really good at manipulating facts.

Posted by spoom7718 on 2014-06-08 17:19:21

Thank you. I want to put forth a postulation that is very volatile and one that I do not advocate at all. When I said meet them head on earlier, I realized that the course of action was reactive: deal with them after they do something stupid. What if they were treated EXACTLY the same as they treat abortion providers? What if people congregated in front of their churches and hollered hateful things at the congregation as they entered? What if their ministers were stalked or murdered by zealous lunatics who believe their actions will give them a mansion in the after-life? Notice how the mansion in Heaven greatly parallels 72 virgins? What if the pro-life churches were blown up or burned down? How would they feel? Notice,though, that none of the above has ever happened nor should it. Why? The pro choice movement has the decency not to engage in terrorism and to respect life and property. If want some real insight into how the pro-lifers operate watch the documentary"12th & Delaware". These people are real Walter Mittys;somewhere between laughable and pitiful.

Posted by spoom7718 on 2014-06-08 17:11:00

You only see what spoom posted as propaganda because you have really no cogent argument against someone's person health decisions, instead relying on moral indignation to support the idea of essentially butting into the personal and lives of people you see as immoral.

Posted by TheBroodwich on 2014-06-08 14:17:04

Women need to know their history...we are being pushed back to pre-Roe v Wade days. Read about JANE and the underground abortion movement http://www.uic.edu/orgs/cwluhe...

Yup. They're all for "small government" -- small enough to fit into a woman's body.

Posted by Cactus_Wren on 2014-06-08 11:19:43

I still can't believe we are living in the 21st century...

Posted by tigalily on 2014-06-08 00:07:00

How would the Texas law enforce a 14-day follow up visit if the woman simply refused to return? (Not saying anything about it at the first visit, of course.) I sure as heck wouldn't go back.

Posted by BB-Mystic on 2014-06-07 16:22:41

My intention was not to portray them as subhuman vermin that need to be exterminated,as Hitler's propaganda suggested.Furthermore, I resent the NAZI reference as both my grandfathers spent their young adulthood killing NAZIs. My intention was to illustrate a mindset among the pro-lifers. They are myrmidons. A myrmidon is a soldier who fights and obeys orders without question. Is this analogous? Definitely! It is also the derivation of the latin name for ants:Insectae Myrmidiae.To paraphrase Muhammad Ali, It ain't propaganda if it's true.

The only way to deal with certain people is to meet them head on. One can't appeal to a "better nature" if it's been deliberately excised.. They say you can't fight fire with fire,well you can if it's gunfire. If they violate the the law, they should be prosecuted. If they commit acts of terror,they should be treated like terrorists. You can peddle me Christian gentleness, but,having spent four years in one of these churches,I know there is nothing Christian or gentle about them. In these churches, love and hope are something earned.

Posted by spoom7718 on 2014-06-05 22:37:50

Wow. Such angry propaganda. Reminds me of that brilliant piece that Hitler did where he talked about Jews but showed pictures of rats. The image of ants is particularly effective.

Never fear people who offer hope and love. Check out Silent No More and Until There Were None. You won't find ants or termites. God bless.

Posted by J H on 2014-06-05 21:38:09

You have to remember that the pro-life movement is relentless. They are like termites or ants. Like ants,individually,they are stupid and harmless,but put them together in a group and they become smart and dangerous. They will also do whatever it takes to complete the mission,including self-sacrifice,just like ants. Why? They are proles. Read"Class" by Paul Fussell. In his book he discusses sports fanaticism. Proles cheer their team to victory because they do not win in their own life.The same applies to the pro-lifers. Frankly,I'm surprised how tolerated they are. The pro-lifers commit acts that,were they committed by Muslims,would be deemed acts of terror. Think about it. If the Al-Qaeda went around this country blowing up synagogues or murdering rabbis,they would be locked the four-letter word up. Substitute Al-Qaeda,synagogue,and rabbi with Operation Rescue,abortion clinic,and abortion doctor and you see the pro-lifers' malevolence. However, we have to respect their "freedom of religion", which we happily ignore when it comes to Muslims. If the pro-lifers were hostilely scrutinized like Muslims, I believe a lot of their crypto-terrorist foolishness would evaporate. That said,I think it's wonderful that the pro-choice is stepping up to the plate and helping women seeking abortions. However, I think it would be easier and more logistically sound if the women needing abortions were kept at the houses of the volunteers. It would offer those women a more cozy environment. They would be under supervision of a protective sort,as pro-lifers will ,eventually, find out a way to track these women to their hotel rooms and harass them there. Don't believe me? Just you wait. Also a sympathetic escort to the clinic,will assist in dealing with the harangue the women will endure by pro-lifers as they step on to the premises. Also,this will drain resources of the pro-lifers as they will have to track volunteer vehicles going to clinics,bus stations, train stations, and airports, as well as any privately owned vehicles that show up at the volunteers houses. Yes the pro-lifers will go that far. I say make it as difficult as possible for them to "win".

Posted by spoom7718 on 2014-06-05 20:03:04

Anyone old enough to remember the "Berlin Airlift" of 1948? The Allies sent hundreds of airplanes with food and supplies to Berlin which was being blockaded by the Soviet Union. It kept that city alive. It's time to revive that plan, but this time to bring pregnant women to states where abortion is readily available. Planned Parenthood is blessed with many very wealthy donors who could fund such an operation. Come to California: we have no waiting periods, mandatory ultrasounds, or scientifically incorrect information. We'll take good care of you. Who knows, you might even decide to stay in a state run by common sense rather than religious dogma.

Posted by David Priver on 2014-06-05 15:59:51

So, am I to understand that a group of people who never cease to beat their chests about their right to personal liberty and the need to keep intrusive big government out of their lives, is working to add a slew of governmental regulations to the abortion process? Can you spell H-Y-P-O-C-R-I-S-Y? And to make it all the more astonishing, they call themselves "conservatives". To which I say: NONSENSE! What you are is government intervention advocates as surely as any liberal/progressive could be. It is sad the the GOP has been hijacked by religious extremists. It used to be a party of principle; not any more.

Posted by David Priver on 2014-06-05 15:51:26

rightsmart I have been working as a sex educator for 11 years, including lots of work on pregnancy and disease prevention and abortion access. There are literally millions of people who give their time, money, energy and work to raising money and directly providing help support women choosing abortion. Their are fundraising dinners, events, etc. CONSTANTLY. I have worked in community-based health centers almost my entire career and doctors are driving hundreds of miles every month, every week to provide this procedure to women in need. They don't get paid and nobody pays for that gas, those train tickets except them. Physicians, nurses, medical assistants, educators and clinic escorts put their LIVES AT RISK to protect women's autonomy and bodily rights. If you are unaware of the support to protect women's right to access abortion, you really need to be paying more attention. I have total respect for people who would never choose abortion, who don't don't feel that's right. That choice is each person's alone. And I respect and am one of those people who gives my time and energy to help women who choose pregnancy, parenting, adoption and abortion. I applaud all those who work for the betterment of the lives of women, but make no mistake, sometimes those women, in their full autonomy will choose abortion and sometimes that abortion will save their lives.

Posted by Alex on 2014-06-05 12:45:25

I've attended several fundraising events, led by women in my community and in other places, where pro-lifers have given generously to CPCs to offer counseling, ultrasounds, prenatal care, and post-birth assistance. Several pro-life physicians likewise give of their time, talents, and finances. I've never heard of a fundraising dinner or other event to marshal similar resources so women could have an abortion, which speaks volumes about abortion's proponents and the cause itself.

Posted by rightsmart on 2014-06-05 08:37:32

Pro-lifers don't offer financial support. They offer to send women to adoption agencies that in turn sell the babies. If they can't get you to give them the baby to sell they might give you a few diapers. Maybe a few diapers. Many CPCs require a note from church about attendence to get those diapers.

Posted by julia on 2014-06-05 03:33:56

What abortion alternatives? You mean CPC's that lie to women? That is all they offer. Taxpayer subsidies do not pay for abortions. They Hyde Amendment forbids it. We are fighting for access to a legal medical procedure. Raising money for women to travel to obtain abortions should not be necessary if the states like LA and Miss.hadn't all but outlawed the procedure. Women sleeping in bus stations etc. is what is abhorrent

Posted by Pam Mason on 2014-06-04 14:25:33

For decades, pro-lifers have been backing up their rhetoric with financial support for abortion alternatives. Why can't pro-choice advocates do more of this, instead of demanding taxpayer subsidies for a medical procedure viewed as morally abhorrent by at least half the country? This article at least suggests a few pro-choice advocates are willing to put their own money behind their beliefs.

Posted by rightsmart on 2014-06-04 13:07:59

I live in NJ. There are FIVE PP's in my county alone, three that do abortions. Access to healthcare (and yes, abortion is healthcare) should not depend on your zip code. I would be more than willing to open up my home to any woman coming here because she can't get an abortion in her state.